Smith paces Paloma Valley to another softball win

Paloma Valley's Kailee Smith delivers a pitch against Temescal Canyon's during the Wildcats' 7-4 win in a Sunbelt League high school softball game on Tuesday.|_Mandatory Photo Credit: Photo by Don Boomer/UT San Diego/Copyright 2012 San Diego Union-Tribune, LLC

Paloma Valley's Kailee Smith delivers a pitch against Temescal Canyon's during the Wildcats' 7-4 win in a Sunbelt League high school softball game on Tuesday.|_Mandatory Photo Credit: Photo by Don Boomer/UT San Diego/Copyright 2012 San Diego Union-Tribune, LLC

MENIFEE  The Paloma Valley High softball team knew the path to a second consecutive Sunbelt League championship would more than likely entail winning all of its remaining four contests.

And thanks to the pitching — and batting — of Kailee Smith on Tuesday, that road got a little shorter.

Smith allowed eight hits in a complete game effort while collecting two RBIs to lead Paloma Valley past Temescal Canyon, 7-4.

The junior struck out six batters, including two to close the game in the seventh inning.

Though pleased with the result, Smith was mindful that there is still work to be done.

“As great as this was today, we need the next game even more,” Smith said. “We are focused right now and know that we have to get it done.”

The Wildcats will attempt a three-game season sweep of the Titans on the road Thursday. Paloma Valley (16-6, 10-2) is tied with Heritage at the top of the Sunbelt League standings.

Paloma Valley coach Briana Wells said she was encouraged with how her team handled some adversity during the game.

“We went through some rough patches, but I’m impressed with the way we were able to battle through them,” Wells said. “That’s a good sign for us, that even on an off-day we can still be productive and score runs.”

On Tuesday, Paloma Valley jumped to a 5-1 lead but saw that advantage dissipate as Temescal Canyon chipped away at the lead, cutting the deficit to a single run in the top of the fifth.

Paloma Valley answered immediately in the bottom of the same inning with run-scoring singles from Abigail Callais and Isabel Castellanos.

Freshman standout Emma Bordenkecher, who led Temescal Canyon in hits and RBIs entering Tuesday, did not play in the contest do to an illness.

“We weren’t able to excute today,” Temescal Canyon coach Dan Bosna said. “(Smith) was doing a good job setting up our batters, but mentally we just weren’t here today.

After its league championship last season, Paloma Valley was ushered out of the postseason with a heartbreaking 2-1 first-round loss to South Torrance.

Wells hope that this year, that experience will help lead the Wildcats to a deeper playoff run.

“We aren’t letting our mistakes get to us,” Wells said. “We are able to shake things off, and hopefully that is allowing us to build some momemtium heading into the playoffs.